Northside Elementary School of Benson recently won the top prize in Target’s “Give With Target” promotion. Northside School was the first school to earn 10,000 votes, giving the school the top prize over all other schools in the United States.
Because Northside School won first place, the school not only earned $10,000 for Benson Schools, but it also earned a special “Celebrity Celebration”, featuring appearances by 2013 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year” Luke Bryan, and U.S. gymnast and 2012 two-time gold medal Olympic champion Gabrielle Douglas, among others.
The date of the celebration is Tuesday, Oct. 1 and, although 3,000 tickets have been reserved for students, faculty, and their immediate families, there are another 500 tickets that will be distributed to area residents.
Student permission and registration packets were mailed to all school district families for arrival Monday, Sept. 23. If you have not yet received your packet, you are asked to come to the school during school hours to sign all necessary forms by Friday, Sept. 27.

The only way to get one of the remaining 500 tickets is to show up at the Benson Armory beginning at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 26 (tomorrow).
The tickets are available to area residents at a first-come, first-served basis, and interested people will need to bring along a photo ID and appear in person. You will only be able to get one ticket per person, you will not be able to get tickets for other people, and youth under the age of 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Photo: The early morning line today (Thursday) at the Benson Armory wasn't extremely long, but the 10 a.m. opening for tickets could bring a few more potential customers for the Target event. (submitted photo)